Steam table for food



Jan. 6. 1925.

A. M. DEMU'TH'H ET AL STEAM TABLE FOR FOOD Fi led Deb; 14. 1922 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5006. Q g Q 5' an Jan, 6. 1925.

1,521,760 A. M. DEMUTH ET AL -STEAM TABLE FOR FOOD Fil ed Dec.

l4, 1922 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 ZZZ 722 5115: filfreci Demui/Z Paul 500$ 1. Mvvvvvv i Q A 9 fizsg Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITED STTES ALFRED M. DEMUTH AND PAUL SOOS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM TABLE FOR FOOD.

Application filed December 14, 1922. Serial No. 608,811.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED M. DEMUTH and PAUL Soos, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Tables for Food, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in what is commonly termed steam tables, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use, for keeping hot or warm cooked articles of food and to which articles ready access may be had, the steam and hot water being prevented from coming into contact with the articles.

Heretofore in steam tables of this character and particularly the type in which burners or heaters are employed, the burners are placed beneath the table, within the usual storage compartment therebeneath and in such positions that the flame will inipinge the bottom of the table with the result that deposits are formed upon the bottom of the table, which eventually drop down into the food or receptacles stored in the compartment beneath the table. In other constructions the heating attachments which have heretofore been connected with tables of this character project beyond the walls of the table, which is objectionable and requires space. 7

To overcome all of these objections and difliculties and to provide an improved table of this character having improved means for heating the liquid within the table and which heating medium will not only prevent the formation of deposits upon the bottom of the table thereby producing a sanitary construction, but the heating apparatus is so constructed and arranged that steam or the heating medium will be circulated through the liquid in the table and out of com mingling relation therewith before the heating medium is discharged into or liberated within the table, thereby resulting in a rapid heating of the liquid and generation of steam within the table.

A further object is to provide an im- 5 proved steam table of this character in which the heating means will be disposed entirely within the confines of the edges of the table.

To the attainment of these ends and the the top of the table being shaped to form in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 2 is a view partly in plan, partly insection and partly broken away as taken on the line 22, Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1. I

Figure 4: is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-t, Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designates generally a hollow table forming a space for liquid,

open receptacles 11 which project into the table and below the top thereof. v This table and the receptacles 11 may be of any desired size and configuration but the sides 12 of the table are preferably inclined downwardly and inwardly and the bottom 13 is preferably concaved soas to form a trough for the water 14 in the bottom of the table. Y i

The table is supported in any, desired or suitable manner preferably by means of a frame embodying a rear Wall 15, bottom 16, front wall 17, within which latter is provided any desired number of doors l8, and end walls 19--2O to form a storage com partment beneath the table and in which compartment may be arranged any suitable number of shelves 21. The end walls 19 are preferably spaced for a considerable distance from the end walls of the tablelO so as to form spaces beneath the ends of the table and within the confines of the ends of the table, for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. If desired supporting legs 2-2 may be provided. p v

Arranged beneath the table top and in advance of the partition or wall 19 is a heater embodying a coil 23 arranged within a casing 24. The outlet end of the coil 23 has communication as at 25 with the interior of the table 10, preferably adjacent one end. thereof. V Arranged within the table and having communication with the end, 25 of the coil 110 is a loop or coil 26 which may be of anyfdesired length and configuration but prefer substantially the entire length of the table before it is discharged or liberated through the open end 27 into the table.

Comunicating with the other or inlet end of the coil 23 is a pipe 28 which has commucation with the interior of the table as at 29., so that the water from the table may flow into the coil through the pipe 28 to be heated and then flow from the coil 23 into the coil 26.

As a means for preventing the water from splashing back or out through the communieating opening 29 between the table and the pipe 28, a shield or hood 30 may be disposed over the opening 29. This shield is open at one end so as to permit the water in the table to flow into the pipe 28.

A. suitable burner 31 may be provided beneath the coil 23 for heating the latter.

The casing 24, which encompasses the coil 23, is provided with an outlet opening 32 for the products of combustion and communicating with this opening 32 is a flue 33, preferably arranged beneath the table top and extending through the storage compartmentbeneath the table, .the end of the flue being deflected downwardly to pass through the bottom 16 and into a receptacle 34, supported by means of suitable hangers 35 beneath the bottom 16. This receptacle 34 is provided for the reception of soot and products of combustion discharged through the end of the fine, and at the same time will prevent these particles from being delivered into the room.

If desired a steam outlet pipe 37 may be provided. The end 38 of the pipe extends into the table 10 and may be provided with a series of openings 39 which co-operate with the open end of the pipe 3-8 to permit the steam to enter the pipe. The end 38 of the pipemay terminate at any desired height wlt'hln the table but preferably terminates at a point adjacent the table top. The lower end of the pipe 37 extends into a suitable receptacle 40 supported by the bottom 16 be yond the partition 20. This receptacle 4O operates as a condenser and is adapted to contain liquid 41 for condensing the vapor which flows into the receptacle through the pipe 37. This receptacle 40 may be provided with a fill opening 42, a gauge glass 4.3, a draw off cock 44 and an overflow pipe 45, if desired.

With this improved construction it will be manifest that there is a continuous circulation of the hot water from the coil 23 through the coil 26 into the table 10 and out of, the table through the communicating opening 29 with the top of the coil 23. The liquid in circulating through the coil 26 being hot, constitutes a heating medium for heating the water within the table and when the steam in the table accumulates to any great extent itwill flow through the pipe pipe 37 into the condenser 40 to be condensed. When desired the water of condensation may be drawn from the condenser 40, through the cook 44 and may also, when the cock 44 is closed, be delivered from the receptacle through the overflow pipe 45.

The table top is provided with a suitable fill opening 46 closed by a suitable closure 47 having a safety valve 48 connected therewith and which safety valve may be set for any pressure which it is desired to maintain within the table top.

Ifdesired an indicator 49 may also be provided for indicating the height of the liquid 14 in the table top. This indicator may be of any desired and well-known construction but preferably embodies a pointer 50, which is adapted to be operated by means of a float 51, arranged to operate within a tube or casing 52.

Suitable ledges or supports 53-54 may also be provided if desired, and may be respectively connected with and supported by the table and by means of suitable brackets 5556.

The receptacles 11 are adapted to receive containers in which the food is placed so that the containers may be readily removed when desired and others substituted therefor.

\Vhile the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described it is to be understood that various changes ma ybe made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

lVhat is claimed as new is l. A self-contained steam table of the character described embodying a. closed chamber for holding liquid, a portion of the chamber being shaped to form receptacles extending into the chamber and opening through one wall thereof, a heating coil exterior of the chamber and within the confines of the edges of the table, one end of the coil communicating with the interior of the chamber, an open ended. conduit within the chamber, said conduit having com1nunication with the other end of the coil, a casing for the coil, a heater for the coil, a flue leading from the casing having an open end, and a receptacle exterior of said chamber for re ceiving products of combustion from the fine and into which last recited receptacle the open end of the flue projects.

2. A self-contained steam table of the character described embodying a closed chamber for holding liquid, a portion of the chamber being shaped to form a receptacle extending into the chamber and opening through one wall thereof, a heating coil exterior of the chamber and within the confines of the edges of the table, one end of the coil communicating with the interior of the chamber, an open ended conduit within the chamber, said conduit having communication with the other end of the coil, a casing for the coil, a heater for the coil, a .fiuc leading from the casing, a storage compartment beneath the table top and through which compartment the said flue extends, and means for catching and confining the deposits from the products of combustion discharged from the end of the flue.

3. A steam table of the character described embodying a closed chamber for holding liquid, a portion of the chamber being shaped to form a receptacle extending into the chamber and opening through one wall thereof, a heating coil exterior of the cham ber and within the confines of the edges of the table, one end of the coil opening into the table, a shield disposed over and spaced from said opening, an open ended conduit within the table and also communicating with the coil, there being a fill opening for the table, a closure for the fill opening, and a heater for the said coil.

4. A steam table of the character described embodying a closed chamber for holding liquid, a portion of the chamber being shaped to form a receptacle extending into the chamber and opening through one wall thereof, a heating coil exterior of the chamber and within the confines of the edges of the table, one end of the coil opening into the table, an open ended conduit within the table and also communicating with the coil, there being a fill opening for the table, a closure for the fill opening, a heater for the said coil, a vapor outlet for the table, and. a condenser connected with said outlet, said condenser being disposed beneath and within the confines of the edges of the table.

5. A steam table of the character described embodying a hollow table for containing fluid, a portion of the table being shaped to form a receptacle extending into the table and opening through one wall thereof, a water heater exterior of the chamber and disposed within the confines of the edges of the table, said heater having communication with the interior of the table to produce a circulation through the heater and table, a vapor outlet leading from the table, and a condenser connected with said vapor outlet,

vapor outlet leading from the table, a con denser connected with said vapor outlet, and means for indicating the liquid level in the table.

7. A steam table of the character described embodying a closed chamber for holding liquid, a portion of the chamber being shaped to form a receptacle extending into the chamber and opening through one wall thereof, a heater disposed below the chamber and embodying a coil discharging into the chamber, a conduit within the chamber and having communication with the coil, there being a fill opening for the chamber, a closure for the fill opening, said heater also embodying a casing, a fine leading from the casing beneath the chamber and discharging therebelow, and a receptacle into which the discharge end of the said flue projects, all of said parts being disposed within the 0011- fines of the edges of the table.

8. A steam table of the character described embodying a closed chamber for holding liquid, a portion of the chamber being shaped to form a receptacle extending into the chamber and opening through one Wall thereof, a heater disposed below the chamber and embodying a coil discharging into the chamber, a conduit within the chamber and having communication with the coil, there being a fill opening for the chamber, a closure for the fill opening, said heater also embodying a casing, a flue leading from the casin beneath the chamber and discharging therebelow, a receptacle into which the discharge end of the said flue projects, asteam outlet leading from the chamber, and a condenser connected with the said steam outlet, all of said parts being disposed within the confines of the edges of the table.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification on this 11th day of December, A. D. 1922.

ALFRED M. DEMUTH; PAUL SOOS. 

